Ax or hatchet.



UNITED STAT-ES ATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM LAWTON, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

AX OR HATCHET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,942, dated November 4, 1902.

Application filed August 18, 1902. Serial No. 120,123. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LAWTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmington, in the county of Newcastle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axes or Hatchets; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to axes or hatchets.

The object of the invention is to provide an ax or hatchet which shall be simple of construction, durable in use, and comparatively inexpensive ofproduction.

With this and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, said invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation illustrating my invention as applied to a hatchet. V Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

In the construction of the hatchet or ax a piece of steel of suitable thickness has stamped or rolled from it a pattern which is bent into the form shown in the drawings and constitutes the head or poll and eye of a complete instrument, the blade being separate and suitably secured between the ends of the pattern which form extensions ofthe sides of the eye.

In the drawings a hatchet is shown; but it is evident that by a slight modification in the form of blank an ax could be produced.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, (.t denotes the blade of the hatchet, b the eye, and c the head or poll. and eye are composed of a single piece of metal bent into the form shown, in which it will be seen that the material is formed with an arched curve from 2 to 3, is curved outwardly from 3 to 4 to form one side of the poll or head of the hatchet, is bent laterally from 4 to 5 to form the Working face of the head or poll, and from 5 to 6 it is curved inwardly to form one side of the eye, and at this point the two sides are secured by a rivet 7 or by welding or otherwise securing them The head together. From the point 6 to 7 said metal piece is curved outwardly and then inwardly to form the opposite side of the eye, and at the points 2 and 7 a second rivet a is passed through the two sides of the material to close the eye, or said two sides at said point are welded or otherwise suitable secured together. From the points 2 and 7 the ends of the piece of material project to form extensions S 8 from the sides of the eye and are adapted to receive between them the blade at, which is secured in position by the rivet a, securing the parts at the points 2 and 7, and by a third rivet d uniting said extensions 8 8 near their outer ends. Instead of employing rivets, however, the ends or extensions 8 8' may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the blade a.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the extensions 8 8 are given a tapering formation, thus causing the parts to act in the nature of a wedge, adapted to split the material into which the blade is entered readily apart. If desired, a wedge d, of wood or other suit-able material, may be inserted into the split head or outer end of'the handle to force the sides thereof apart, thus maintaining them at all times in firm connection with the sides of the eye and preventing the head or poll from flying off the handle.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, mode of operation,-and advantages of my improved ax or hatchet will be readily apparent Without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in th'e'form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departingfrom the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having, thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A hatchet or ax comprisinga single piece of metal bent to form an eye and a poll, and a blade consisting of a separate piece secured between extensions from the sidesof the eye, substantially as described.

2. A hatchet or ax comprising a single piece of material bent to form a poll and an eye, the ends of the piece of material being exeye being suitably united, and a blade inserted between said extensions from the eye and united thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wittended from the sides of the eye, and a blade fitted between said extensions, substantially as specified.

3. A hatchet or ax comprising a single piece of material bent to form a poll and an eye, and a blade formed of a separate piece united to the eye, substantially as set forth. nesses.

4. A hatchet or ax consistin of a sin le piece of material bent at the center to fol in VILLIAM a head, bent below the head to form an eye, \Vitnesses: and havingextensions from said eye, the sides J. E. SMITH,

EDWARD T. PRICE.

of the piece of material between the head and l 

